My research in the lab focuses on tuberculosis. I am specifically interested in understanding what constitutes a protective host immune response capable of building a functioning granuloma to wall off Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The study aims to assess the relative contribution of monocyte subsets to the maintenance of M. tuberculosis-induced granulomas. This involves the establishment of M. tuberculosis-induced granulomas in human lung tissue models based on fibroblasts, endothelial and epithelial cells; FACS isolation and functional characterization of monocyte subsets CD14+CD16-, CD14+CD16+ and CD14dimCD16+; assessment of granuloma expansion or disruption, cell death, cytokine production, and bacterial growth; immunofluorescence staining of granulomas in lung tissues from non-human primates.

My other project involves the identification of a host signature to distinguish pulmonary TB and non-TB pulmonary diseases. This work directly addresses the fact that clinically relevant TB biomarkers need to be able to distinguish pulmonary TB and non-TB pulmonary diseases. We conducted a pilot study in collaboration with a research institute in Brazil. Hundred human samples were collected, including from patients with active TB, pneumonia or asthma. The samples were analyzed by real-time PCR and a host signature based on the expression of three genes was identified. This project is now entering a larger-scale study and involves new collaborative research with clinics and laboratories in Brazil.